Despite the history and heritage, I expected totally mass market plnok (not that there's anything wrong with plonk ) but I was totally surprised. Very busy season, but reasonably personnable hostess wjho poured some extra stuff when I started asking questions. Cheap tasting room costs, too. ($5)

Anyway-THIS is the kind of wine I seem to gravitate to. Memorable were the Napa Valley Merlot (2003). Given my limited experience, I still think this tastes like a right bank Saint Emillion!!!! Delicious earthy herbal leathery notes. For $24!

Both cabs were excellent, one a Napa blend, the other a "Oak Vineyard" Stag's Leap estate wine. Again, that awesome earthy, leathery character I like, with still some balance and fruit.

Any other positive opinions about Clos Du Val? I may actually join my first wine club!

...(Humans) are unique in our capacity to construct realities at utter odds with reality. Dogs dream and dolphins imagine, but only humans are deluded. –Jacob Bacharach

Brian K Miller wrote:Anyway-THIS is the kind of wine I seem to gravitate to. Memorable were the Napa Valley Merlot (2003). Given my limited experience, I still think this tastes like a right bank Saint Emillion!!!! Delicious earthy herbal leathery notes. For $24!

It would have really been something if it had tasted like a left bank St.-Em.

Any other positive opinions about Clos Du Val? I may actually join my first wine club!

I believe it was here (unless it was elsewhere) a while back where I characterized Clos du Val's wines as underrated and often deceptive in their youth. I still recall fondly their '78 Reserve Cab, a great wine.